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Columbus teen gets community service in fatal shooting

COLUMBUS — A Georgia judge has sentenced a teenager to perform 250 hours of community service for the shooting death of a friend in Columbus.

Judge John Allen imposed the sentence Monday on 17-year-old Morgan Springer. Springer will also have to spend 10 years on probation.

Springer had faced up to 10 years in prison. But the Ledger-Enquirer (http://bit.ly/Mow9Ii ) quotes the judge as saying relatives wouldn't be served by Springer going to jail.

Springer pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of 17-year-old Conner Weeks, who was fatally wounded in October. Authorities say Springer was holding a shotgun and pulled the trigger without checking to see whether it was loaded.

Weeks died later in surgery.

Officials described the two teenagers as close friends.

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